DNA has been found to have a bizarre ability to put itself together, even at a distance, when according to known science it shouldn't be able to. Explanation: None, at least not yet.

Scientists are reporting evidence that contrary to our current beliefs about what is possible, intact double-stranded DNA has the “amazing” ability to recognize similarities in other DNA strands from a distance. Somehow they are able to identify one another, and the tiny bits of genetic material tend to congregate with similar DNA. The recognition of similar sequences in DNA’s chemical subunits, occurs in a way unrecognized by science. There is no known reason why the DNA is able to combine the way it does, and from a current theoretical standpoint this feat should be chemically impossible.

Even so, the research published in ACS’ Journal of Physical Chemistry
B, shows very clearly that homology recognition between sequences of
several hundred nucleotides occurs without physical contact or presence
of proteins. Double helixes of DNA can recognize matching molecules
from a distance and then gather together, all seemingly without help
from any other molecules or chemical signals.

In the study, scientists observed the behavior of fluorescently tagged
DNA strands placed in water that contained no proteins or other
material that could interfere with the experiment. Strands with
identical nucleotide sequences were about twice as likely to gather
together as DNA strands with different sequences. No one knows how
individual DNA strands could possibly be communicating in this way, yet
somehow they do. The “telepathic” effect is a source of wonder and
amazement for scientists.

“Amazingly, the forces responsible for the sequence recognition can
reach across more than one nanometer of water separating the surfaces
of the nearest neighbor DNA,” said the authors Geoff S. Baldwin, Sergey
Leikin, John M. Seddon, and Alexei A. Kornyshev and colleagues.

This recognition effect may help increase the accuracy and efficiency
of the homologous recombination of genes, which is a process
responsible for DNA repair, evolution, and genetic diversity. The new
findings may also shed light on ways to avoid recombination errors,
which are factors in cancer, aging, and other health issues.

They are slowly moving from the simple DNA sequences towards 'languages'of the DNA and how these affect the recognition and I believe many other functions of control - monitor on the body to which they belong.

Interesting...they are moving up from simple and rather 'naive'...mechanical position...and mapping....to the true DNA languages.

What life really means ? this Lotus Sutra's chapter can bring light to this question. [read the entire sutra]

At this time the World-Honored One serenely arose from meditation and addressed Shariputra: The wisdom of all Buddhas is infinitely profound and immeasurable. The portal to this wisdom is difficult to understand and difficult to enter. Neither men of Learning (shomon) nor men of Realization (engaku) are able to comprehend it.
The reason is this. A Buddha has carried out countless austerities under many hundred thousand myriads of kotis of Buddhas. He devoted himself to these practices so valiantly and untiringly that his name is universally known. He realized the profound, unparalleled Law and preaches it according to the people's capacity, yet his intention is very difficult to understand.
Shariputra, ever since I attained Buddhahood, I have widely expounded my teachings through many stories of past relationships and many parables, and by countless means have led the people to renounce all their attachments.
The reason for this is that the Tathagata is possessed of both means and perfect wisdom.
Shariputra, the Tathagata has the power to perceive which among the various teachings [is suited to his audience], to preach the teachings in a skillful way, and to gladden the hearts of the people with warm and tender words. That is to say, Shariputra, the Buddha has realized the infinite, boundless and unparalleled Law.
Shariputra, I will say no more, because that which the Buddha has achieved is the rarest and most difficult Law to comprehend.

The true entity of all phenomena can only be understood and shared between Buddhas. This reality consists of appearance, nature, entity, power, influence, internal cause, relation, latent effect, manifest effect, and their consistency from beginning to end.

If this doesn't sound like a
plausible real-world effect of
"Quantum Entanglement" then I'll
eat that hat you're wearing!

Einstein called it "Spooky Action at a
Distance" and there is a theory that
sub-atomic particles (Quarks, etc)
can become entangled together such
that they mimic each other's "Actions"
and "Properties" no matter how far apart
they are, be it only one metre or
billions of light years!

This has FANTASTIC implications for
instantaneous communications across
Giga-light years of distance.

This means we could either make our OWN
intergalactic Internet that would have
ultra high bandwidth, instantaneous
communications no matter the distance
OR we could JOIN the probably already
existing Intergalactic Internet
by searching for and plugging into
one of the Qbit (Quantum Bit) ports
on a "Quantum Router" which is probably
already on Earth or at least nearby!

So to these scientists, I suggest we
start looking for localized effects
of quantum entanglement to see if there
aren't already Quantum Communications
taking place...For the average layman,
think of it this way...if WE as simple
humans have the ability to think of
using sub-atomic particles as a
communications device, who is to say
that an alien civilization thousands
or tens of thousands of years older than
ours is not already doing so...and since
there might be an "Open Port" available
on that Quantum Router, why not see if
we could try and plug in to this likely
already ancient Intergalactic Internet
and begin accessing that very-useful-to-us
Intergalactic Wikipedia?

Mr. Eckstein, I believe you're (mostly) correct, with one minor asterisk: the entanglement effects will still propagate at the speed of light, so while you've solved the problem of establishing the connection, you still have the problem of the time lag over long distances.

While I support the Buddhist teachings, I don't think that the supplied quote from the Lotus Sutra particularly brings anything valuable to this discussion.

On the other hand, this has the potential to lead us down the path to understand the new-aged flavor of chicken or egg first: What came first? nucleotides or proteins?

This is an essential, unanswered question detailed in Robert Shapiro's Origins - A sceptic's guide to the creation of life on Earth.

I lean much more on the argument that nucleotides came first after reading this. They appear to be able to operate independently from proteins and it's possible that somehow proteins are a byproduct of some nucleotide activity. Regardless, I have now overcome the mental block that held that nucleotides likely were dependent on the protective capacity of proteins.

Now I think that nucleotides are a foundation of life, which led to "viruses" which led to single-celled organisms. But there are still missing links, however if you can't tell I'm very excited.

Also, I think this study helps reinforce my view that all matter has some level of consciousness, including inanimate objects or sentient life.

In response to renesigma, I wonder if they agree that insentient life is capable of attaining enlightenment/Buddhahood. If chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is an indication of enlightenment through the simultaneity of cause and effect, then my computer is enlightened, for it has chanted through text-to-speech tools.

Could silicon life come to replace carbon life? Perhaps, but I think we depend on it now, whether or not it replaces us...

Nonsense. Conventional chemical logic is entirely adequate to explain this phenomenon. "Telepathy" and "quantum entanglement" need not apply. Molecules segregating in solution is no mystery--it's basic statistical thermodymanics. The hydrophobic effect (e.g. the separation of oil and water mixtures into separate layers) is an utterly routine example of spontaneous segregation. All these studies have revealed is that identical duplex DNAs aggregate in solution better than nonidentical duplex DNAs, which can be readily explained by the hypothesis that there are stronger intermolecular interactions between identical duplex DNAs than between differing duplex DNAs. Identical objects pack more closely than objects having differing shapes. Is that really so hard to believe?

Mr. Behrens: You are incorrect. The effects of entanglement are absolutely instantaneous.
Mr. Eckstein: You are also incorrect since it is not possible to communicate with this method.
See Wikipedia for details.

Every atom's electron cloud has Van der Waals attraction/ repulsion towards others. I've suggested this is a resonance effect, and that DNA should have much more complex resonances-- so similar molecules might be able to 'sense' each other.

I'm not claiming to have special knowledge in this area, but I know that atoms and molecules each have their own unique electromagnetic field.
If you were to visualize the field of an apple and an orange they would be quite distinct, while two apples of different varieties would be very similar and two apples of the same variety would be pretty well the same. The same applies to molecules. So I theorize that DNA may be able to 'sense' other similar DNA in this way.

The mechanism would be beyond me of course. Perhaps the entire DNA strand is a sort of antenna-machine and one of it's primary commands is to seek similar signatures.

"...hypothesis that there are stronger intermolecular interactions between identical duplex DNAs than between differing duplex DNAs. Identical objects pack more closely than objects having differing shapes. Is that really so hard to believe?...."

1. you're stating a hypothesis that has not been proven and with no explanation whatsoever as to what the 'intermolecular interaction' is. so you're basing your whole argument by another theory, which is valid, but it's just a theory. you do not know the mechanism behind it- you just know that it happen and then gives it the name 'intermolecular interaction'

2. if it's really that simple, you really think that this research would even get published in the journal of physical chemistry? what is your credential? what do you really know about physical chemistry?

your knowledge is based on organic chemistry and simple chemistry concept where alike molecules tend to bond more easily than others, but this is at a much deeper level than you probably ever studied.